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THROWING IT DOWN

"Throwing it down," "laying it over," and "putting it sideways" are all terms used by motorcyclists to describe intentionally putting a bike on its side in collision situations. Motorcycle safety instructors are often asked whether they'll teach students how to lay a bike down to avoid an accident. And every instructor, including yours truly, answers the same way: Laying a bike down IS an accident and should be avoided.

A lay-down is actually a low-side crash; that is, a crash where the motorcycle slides in front of the motorcyclist. It's usually caused by sliding the rear tire (i.e. stomping on the rear brake to the point of lock-up) and looking down or to the side. Look to the right and the rear end will come out to the right. Look to the left and the rear tire slides to that direction. The inevitable results are a bent horizontal motorcycle and costly injuries.

The lay down myth is propagated by Hollywood, where motorcycles fly into bogs, slide under trucks and flip over cars to feed the public's hunger for excitement and fantasy. What the public usually doesn't see is the road rash, broken limbs, concussions and burns that usually result from those actions in the real world.

Untrained bikers lend additional credence to the myth when they claim to have intentionally laid a cycle over in hazardous situations. More often than not their fall was probably a result of failing to pay attention to their traffic situation and stomping on the rear brake pedal in the face of danger. After all, saying "I laid 'er down to avoid that car" sounds much better than "I screwed up, lost control and crashed my bike."

Fact: brake shoes and tire rubber always stop a motorcycle better than chrome and axle nuts. A bike on its side is at the mercy of physics, sliding with no directional control and nothing but the friction of metal on pavement to bring it to a halt. Riders on downed bikes fare just as badly, sliding helplessly down the road into whatever blocks their path, such as parked cars, curbs or, in the worst case scenario, oncoming traffic.

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Keep the shiny side up by following these simple rules:
· Never go anywhere your brain hasn't taken you five seconds before. Look for problems areas and anticipate the worst that could happen. Play the "what if" game constantly and you're less likely to be surprised.
· Don't tailgate! Maintain at least a two-second following distance.
· Use both brakes properly. The front brake has at least 70% of your bike's braking power. Use it but don't grab it! Squeeze it to full application as you count "one thousand one."
· Keep your head up. You want to stop straight up and down, so look up and straight ahead. Remember, where you look is where you go.
Maximum braking is best learned under supervision. New riders and those who haven't ridden in a long time will learn to stop on a dime in Rider's Edge classes offered at this dealership every weekend (and twice monthly on weekdays). Experienced riders can learn the limits of their bikes in a state-sponsored Experienced Rider course. Call me at 713-880-0494 or email me at krovell@mancuso-hd.com for more information. Stay safe, stay upright!

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